Butlins - the home of live entertainment...

In 1936 Billy Butlin created the most recognised holiday company in the UK - Butlins.

The first Resort

Butlin's first opened in Skegness introducing the famous Redcoats. With Butlins, a new holiday concept was created for the British holiday maker. Through the years Butlins has evolved into the great brand that it is today. Butlins offers guests entertainment, great facilities and an atmosphere to have fun and relax with family and friends.

A timeline of Butlins' past...

2007

  • January: Kids Favourite TV Channel, Jetix, signs deal for an exclusive aerial show to be performed at all the Resorts during the school summer holidays.
  • March: Reds venue at Skegness is refurbished as the first stage of a two year upgrade for entertainment venues.
  • May: Due to popularity the Skegness Resort doubles the number of treatment rooms at the Spa to 14.
  • July: BlueSkies Vacation Club opens at Minehead - cost £4.5m.
  • September: Butlins signs a new 125-year lease with Arun District Council.
  • October: Butlins Big Weekends brand is launched offering music themed breaks for guests aged 18+.
  • November: Skegness and Bognor Regis join forces with Learning on Location to offer residential educational courses for schools.

2006

  • March: Butlins launches Wedding Service at all Resorts making it the first UK holiday centres to offer weddings.
  • April: Butlins celebrates its 70th birthday.
  • April: Papa Johns is opened at Bognor Regis.
  • April: Outlet Shops are opened at both Bognor Regis and Skegness stocking branded goods such as Reebok sports gear and Gucci perfumes.
  • July: Butlins announces the building of its first ever Vacation Club, titled BlueSkies, being developed at its Minehead Resort.
  • August: Angelina Ballerina is introduced to the Resorts and opens her own Angelina Ballerina Dance Academy.
  • September: Dedicated conference centre opened at Bognor Regis.

2005

  • March: DJ Academy is introduced at the three Resorts where youngsters can learn what it takes to become a professional DJ; mixing, composing a set, Microphone technique and advice on equipment and styles of music.
  • July: The Shaolin Monks Wheel of Life show is brought to the Resorts from China. The monks are the originators of Kung Fu and the show is packed with martial arts and theatre.
  • July: High Ropes course, the largest of its kind in Europe and unique in the UK, is introduced at the Minehead Resort.
  • August: Shoreline Hotel, the first Butlins Resort hotel, opens in Bognor Regis.

2004

  • May: Butlins is hosting, for the 2nd year running, Britains Strongest Man, at Minehead.
  • July: Eastpak Mini Ramp Tour arrives at all Resorts over the peak season.
  • July: Match Winners Tour held at all Resorts allowing children between 8-16 years to get specialist football coaching from the experts.

2003

  • January: An 'Out of Africa' show, featuring performers from Kenya and never before seen in the UK, is included in the summer programme for all three resorts.
  • February: A fly-on -the-wall documentary called 'Redcoats' is broadcast on ITV.
  • April: Billy Bear, Butlins very own cuddly character, whose ambition is to become a Butlins Redcoat is introduced.
  • July: Butlins introduce summer roadshows with popular TV channel Nickelodeon.
  • August: Chat Magazine Roadshows are introduced to all 3 Resorts. An Education Centre at the Skegness Resort is opened by Ivan Lewis, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education. In conjunction with the learning Skills Council the centre will offer online tests in literacy and numeracy and certificates in nationally recognised qualifications. A second series of 'Redcoats' is broadcast.

2002

  • Butlins takes over sponsorship of Swimathon from BT for the next 3 years. Monies raised go to Macmillan Cancer Relief. In its first year Butlins Swimathon raised £1.8million.

2001

  • May: Butlins hosted Britains Strongest Man, holding the event in the Minehead Resort.
  • June: Butlins moves into the conference and Events market. Since the inception of a specialist department such companies as Barclays, MasterFoods and Friends Provident have held conferences and team building events at Butlins.
  • November: Big Top Concerts became Arena Breaks with the capacity being increased to 7000. Such stars as Ronan Keating, Blue, Gareth Gates and Atomic Kitten now play live during the weekend breaks.

2000

  • Bourne leisure acquires Rank Holidays division on 20th October 2000. Big Top concerts are introduced at Minehead. The Big Top was a specially constructed concert venue with a capacity of 5000.

1999

  • The remainder of the £139 million is spent on investment.

1998

  • £75 million invested in upgrading Minehead, Bognor Regis, and Skegness. The refurbishment includes accommodation, waterworlds and entertainment. Ayr and Pwllheli transfer to Haven in October.

1996

  • New Holiday company Parkworld Holidays created to manage Butlins and Haven. Butlins celebrate 60 glorious years 'Diamond Jubilee'.

1994

  • Grand Hotel, London opens.

1993

  • Acquisition of Grand Hotel, London

1990

  • Further investment continues for the holiday worlds.

1989

  • Investment programme commenced for Hotels.

1988

  • £12 million investment at Ayr, renamed Wonderwest World. Investment continues at Minehead, Bognor Regis and Skegness.

1986

  • £10 million invested at Minehead, renamed Summerwest World, including Sunsplash Waterworld.

1984/85

  • Clacton and Filey sold. Robert Butlins retires.

1983

  • Clacton and Filey closed. Luxury units built at Bognor Regis and Minehead.

1982

  • Mosney sold. Fun pools built at Bognor Regis and Minehead.

1981

  • £2 million development at Minehead. Acquisition of Grang Hotel, Llududno.

1980

  • £1.8 million development at Ayr. 12th June Sir William Butlin dies.

1978

  • Sussex Beach built and opened. Grand Hotel, Scarborough purchased.

1976

  • Record Trading profit.

1973

  • Sunshine Hayling Island, Seaview and Tencreek opened.

1972

  • Record one million bookings. Merged with Rank Organisation.

1971

  • Programme of accommodation re-furnishing started at Bognor Regis, Filey and Pwllheli.

1968

  • Sir William retires. Robert Butlin becomes Chairman and MD.

1966

  • Barry Island centre opens.

1964

  • William Butlin knighted.

1962

  • Minehead opens.

1960

  • Bognor Regis opens.

1956

  • Grand Hotel (Cliftonville) and the present company, Nicholson Hotels, purchased with other smaller hotels.

1955

  • Cliftonville Hotels (St George's, Queens, Florence and Norfolk) purchased and opened. Metropole Hotel, Blackpool, take on long lease and opened.

1953

  • Ocean Hotel, Saltdean, purchased and opened.

1951

  • Butlins (Bahamas) Ltd wound up.

1948

  • Butlins (Bahamas) Ltd formed to build a vacation village on the island at Grand Bahamas. Mosney opens.

1946/47

  • Skegness, Clacton, Pwllheli and Ayr de-requisitioned and re-opened, Butlins Irish and Continental Holidays formed.

1945

  • Filey partly de-requisitioned and opened for holidays. Butlins Properties Ltd formed with a total capital of £1,150,000 to finance re-purchase contracts with the Government.

1939/45

  • Ayr is HMS Scotia, Clacton is Army camp, Filey is an RAF station, Pwllheli is HMS Glendower, Skegness is HMS Royal Aurther.

1938

  • Clacton opens with a capacity of 2000.

1937

  • Capacity at Skegness is doubled. Company goes public with a share capital of £220,000.

1936

  • First Holiday Centre opens at Skegness with a capacity of 1000.

1927/35

  • Billy Butlin opens amusement parks throughout Great Britain.

1921

  • Billy Butlin arrives in England from Canada.

1899

  • William Butlin was born.